♠️🧠 Mental Game Monday: In Poker, Ignorance Is Not Bliss

🧩 Narrative Buster

❌ The Problem with Tunnel Vision

Most players are 90% focused on their own hand… and only 10% on what’s happening around them.
It should be the exact opposite.

Poker is a game of incomplete information.
So the player who collects the most information usually wins.
That’s not always the player with the best hand — it’s the player who sees the big picture.

✅ Your Assignment: Reverse Engineering

Don’t be intimidated — you already have the skills.

Every time an opponent goes to showdown, they’re showing you the answers to the test:

• 🧠 What did they raise or call with preflop?

• 🧠 What did they float the flop with?

• 🧠 What hand did they think was strong enough for that turn bet?

• 🧠 Are they always suspicious of bluffs?

You’re not just seeing a hand — you’re watching a story unfold. And now you know how they think.

It only takes a few showdowns to spot key tendencies:

• Who slowplays?

• Who bets big with big hands?

• Who folds medium-strength hands to aggression?

• Who, like your local Old Man with Coffee, is a landmine best avoided?

♠️ Real-World Reminder

If you’re not in the hand, that’s the best time to study the table.

You have no pressure, no money in the pot, and nothing else to do — except learn.

Scrolling, watching TV, or zoning out during other players’ hands is arguably the biggest leak in the entire player pool.

🎯 Mental Cue of the Week

Make this a habit — not just a reaction. If you start asking it after every river reveal, you’ll gather reads faster than anyone at your table.

🧪 Mental Drill or Check-In

Drill:

In your next session, pick one opponent at the table you aren’t in a hand with.

Track their decisions street-by-street on at least one full hand:

1. What did they do preflop, flop, turn, river?

2. What hand did they show down?

3. What does that tell you about how they think?

Bonus: Write down three words that describe their play style. This forces clarity — and sets up the next exploit.

Stay sharp and curious

— Mike

Meet Mike D. -- Poker Coach 

Want 1-on-1 help with turning showdowns into actionable info?
Book a coaching session and get real feedback on your decision-making.
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